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BIOFUEL BACKERS HOPE NUMBERS WILL SWAY EPA: An EPA hearing Thursday showcased a biofuels industry on the ropes. Supporters of the federal biofuels mandate came out in force Thursday for the D.C. area’s only hearing on EPA’s proposal to slash the blending requirement for ethanol and other alternative fuels. They trekked by the dozens or more to a nondescript meeting hall in a Crystal City hotel to make their case to EPA’s five-member panel. So did critics of the mandate — and specifically of corn ethanol. The turnout was a clear sign of how much the agency’s decision may resound across the economy. Darren Goode was on the ground: http://politico.pro/18mOZOg

ICYMI: In a move that would bring a tear to Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s eye, Rep. Peter Welch hopped on an anti-RFS bicycle (well, quadricycle) outside the hearing: http://bit.ly/1eU0uxZ

EPA SCIENCE BOARD QUESTIONS POWER PLANT RULES: EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas regulations for new power plants are facing a new obstacle: the agency’s own science advisers. The Science Advisory Board — a group of academic and industry scientists who review the agency’s decisions — is raising serious concerns about whether EPA appropriately reviewed the issue before deciding that carbon capture and sequestration is commercially available for new coal-fired power plants. Many opponents of EPA’s climate rule certainly don’t think so. Erica Martinson has the story: http://politico.pro/ITFehx

BIDEN TRIP TO CHINA TOUCHES ON CLIMATE, ENERGY ISSUES: Vice President Joe Biden's trip to China this week helped solidfy plans for climate and energy cooperation between the U.S. and China, a senior administration official told reporters aboard Air Force Two yesterday. Besides working together on broader international climate treaty and phasing out HFCs, according to the official, China agreed to work with the U.S. to create an "aggressive" emissions standard for vehicle; to more frequently disclose energy data, including production and consumption; to coordinate strategic petroleum reserve issues with the U.S.; top open up shale gas to development; and to phase out "inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies." “This is all consistent with their move towards better pricing of energy,” the official added.

NO REST FOR THE NRC: The NRC is under fire in court once again over Yucca Mountain — and Chairwoman Allison Macfarlane is the target. In the nearly three months since Macfarlane rejected (http://politico.pro/1cp8R4W) calls to recuse herself from the agency’s deliberations on the Yucca review, her critics have decided to hash the issue out before the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Her decision not to remove herself should be “summarily reversed because Macfarlane’s failure to recuse herself violates NRC’s rules for mandatory recusal under the ‘disinterested observer’ standard and was an abuse of discretion,” a filing submitted to the court yesterday argues. The filing: http://politico.pro/1dUdE1k

— Given Macfarlane’s public statements, interviews, and writings about Yucca Mountain, the lawsuit charges, she has prejudged the project, and allowing her to stay in the process violates her critics’ right to a fair and impartial license review. “She researched, investigated, and rendered conclusions on the technical adequacy of one specific application now being adjudicated before the NRC,” the filing argues. The NRC has defended Macfarlane, saying in part that she doesn’t have an “unalterably closed mind.”

Who filed the lawsuit? The case is being launched by Nye County, Nev., Aiken County, S.C., along with the state of South Carolina. Who’s not on it? Compared to the case successfully launched against the NRC on Yucca and decided this summer, two entities are missing from this lawsuit: the state of Washington, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

NEXT STOP, CONFIRMATION STATION? Democrats will take advantage of new Senate rules and rush to confirm six of President Barack Obama’s most prominent nominations over the next two weeks — including three judges to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (the powerful court that reviews many environmental regulations) who were blocked in recent weeks. Burgess Everett: http://politi.co/IGC1B5

But wait, there’s more: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has announced plans to consider seven nominees for posts at the Energy and Interior departments next Thursday. That’s four DOE nominees: Steven Croley to be the general counsel, Christopher Smith to be an assistant secretary of Energy for fossil energy, Franklin Orr to be undersecretary for science and Jonathan Elkind for the assistant secretary for Energy, international affairs post. And three Interior nominees: Esther Kia’aina to be an assistant secretary for insular areas, Rhea Suh to be assistant secretary of fish and wildlife and Tommy Beaudreau as assistant secretary for policy, management and budget.

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BISHOP PUSHES JEWELL ON NPS FRACKING COMMENTS: Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), chairman of the Natural Resources Committee’s public lands panel, wants Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to explain how the National Park Service cited a New York Times editorial in the agency’s official comments on fracking regulations — comments NPS withdrew last month. Bishop asks Jewell a series of questions about how the Times editorial was included in the comments why the NPS's director was not involved, Interior's protocol on reviewing official comments, and what steps the department has taken to address the issue in the future. Letter: http://1.usa.gov/1bkAwiB

OPIC DROPS SOLAR DEAL, JILTED COMPANY BLAMES SOLYNDRA: The federal Overseas Private Investment Corp. has walked aware from a $30 million financing deal with solar manufacturer Solaria, and the company's president blames Solyndra, the Washington Times writes. “OPIC officials never mentioned Solyndra in their letter pulling their commitment, but Solaria officials say they are certain that’s what is to blame. This week, Solaria filed a nearly $30 million protest in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which, along with email correspondence between the company and agency, offers a detailed account of how the loan came undone amid the backdrop of the Solyndra scandal. … In an email, a spokeswoman for OPIC declined to comment because the matter is under litigation.” WT: http://bit.ly/IMDfLm

IN TODAY’S FEDERAL REGISTER — FERC RULE: FERC’s final rule retiring 34 reliability requirements is in today’s Federal Register. The rule, Order No. 788, scrubs items that the North American Electric Reliability Corp. deemed redundant or merely of little use and will take effect in 45 days. The rule is part of FERC’s ongoing effort to shake out regulations that create unnecessary burdens. Today’s order also withdraws 41 FERC-directed reliability modifications from NERC’s to-do list (there are more than 150 left). FR: http://1.usa.gov/1f0q4BT

MOVER, SHAKER: The Solar Energy Industries Association's Solar Heating and Cooling Alliance has picked up Chip Bircher, formerly a coordinator for DOE's Utility Solar Water Heating Initiative. Solar heating and cooling makes up a relatively small slice of the U.S.’s solar capacity, but offers a tempting area for expansion — a goal that will require disseminating better information and "creating opportunities to engage in conversation and exchange ideas," Bircher said.

Nuclear group president stepping down: Michael Mariotte will resign as executive director of the anti-nuclear group Nuclear Information and Resource Service on Jan. 1. Mariotte, who told supporters that he has been receiving treatment for cancer for nearly a year, will stay with the group full-time in the newly created position of president. Tim Judson, NIRS's associate director, will step in as acting executive director.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Due to a press release error, Wednesday’s edition of Morning Energy incorrectly identified the projected oil output of the eastern Gulf of Mexico blocks up for lease. The area has the potential to produce up to 71 million barrels of oil.

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